We are sat in the Phatfish office, catching up on various bits of admin – and we’re both doing very well!
Going great. We’ve enjoyed loads of great gigs with a real sense of people being impacted by the great truths we have the privilege of singing about – and we just love playing music together. Add to that the birth of Jude
Fellingham (Nathan and Lou’s new addition) and you’ve got a great year!
If people don’t know what you and your music are about, how would you describe yourself?
Musically I’d say we were a pop rock band, using creativity in finding new sounds, crafting great melodies and making quality tunes. That makes up a big part of what we do, just loving music. But it’s not all that we’re about. We want to use our gifts to communicate who our God is and help people communicate how awesome they think he is in their local churches.
Where does the name of the band come from, a keyring ws involved I believe?
Yep, that’s right. It was actually Rachel Fellingham – Luke our bass players wife – who gave a friend of hers this little ‘Purple Phat Fish’ keyring – and in the card she said ‘Sounds like a good name for a band!’. We took the idea on – but dropped the purple after a year and just went with ‘PHATFISH’.
We’ve all got different stories about God’s awesome work in each of our lives, from following God from childhood, to finding out who He is in our teens. So God’s grabbed us at different times but the way He did it would be evident in all, like God’s amazing love, perfect timing, sovereignty, faithfulness and grace. All of which seep out in our music.
You've been around for well over a decade and have released 10 albums. Which would you say was the most successful album? And how would you define success?
Well the biggest seller has been Heavenbound - so I guess you could say that’s been the most successful – and I think it’s inevitable that success will be defined in that way when it comes to albums as it represents how
well people have responded to it. But at the same time we certainly don’t consider success to be exclusively measured by sales. The key thing for us is that we continue to write God glorifying songs and to develop the gifts God has given us – to faithfully continue in work he’s given us to do.
What’s your favourite track over the numerous albums? Which do you most enjoy playing live?
My favorite is probably ‘This is what my God is like’ but we’ve all got our favourites, usually the ones that the individuals have written themselves.
Would you say you prefer worship leading, or performing as a band?
Both are a privilege, they each as enjoyable. There’s often an element of conveying truth through the lyrics at gigs, so it’s not just a group of people entertaining, right as that is, but we try and communicate things that will build up and challenge everyone, whether Christian or not. The band loves God though, and
loves leading people to encounter Him.
What message do you want to give through your music?
I suppose, explaining who God is and what He’s like, and provoking people to a response.
I think we definitely feel as tight and coherent as ever as a team.
Back to your roots, how did you first come to music?
Various visits by red Indians in our dreams, telling of rock star lives with fame and riches. Well, not really. I think we’ve all been musical from our youth, I can remember carrying a notepad of song ideas round when I was at school, and playing the same piece on the piano for years.
Where do you find influences?
Live gigs, being outside (Nath’s a real adrenaline addict), good preaches, tv and being connected to what’s happening in the world.
Who would you love to perform with, past or present?
Ah, funny, we played this game the other day at our church worship team party. I chose Natasha Beddingfield and James Brown, Lou chose Stevie Wonder and Dolly Parton.
What artists have you most loved sharing a stage with?
We love playing with Matt Redman, what a legend.
Fight for this Love – Cheryl Cole.
Who do you think is going to sum up the sound of 2010?
Wagner, and The XX.
God's Earth is a huge place, as you've toured internationally, taking you to all corners of the globe, where have you most enjoyed visiting, what cultures have you embraced?
Australia is God’s country.
Best live performance you’ve played?
Too hard to answer! We’ve enjoyed so many.
What do you miss the most when you’re on the road touring?
Our own beds.
If Phatfish was a Jelly Bean, what colour and flavour would you be and why?
Lemon, because we’re all bitter people. Jokes, the cheap ones or jelly belly ones? If cheep, strawberry because they’re the only ones that taste good, but if you’re treating us, then anything but peanut better, who makes peanut butter sweets?
Tea or coffee?
Coffee.
Neither, MILO.
Summer or winter?
Summer.
Summer, unless it snows everyday in winter.
Superman or Batman?
Batman.
The new batman, the old ones are weird.
Mac or PC?
Mac.
We all have Macs but Mike the piano player is a staunch PC boy.
Bread or Wine?
Wine.
Bread, or even better, use the yeast for beer.
Favourite passage from the Bible?
John 8 – Before Abraham was born, I AM’
1 Chronicles 29:10. – 11 So David blessed the LORD in the sight of all the assembly; and David said, "Blessed are You, O LORD God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the
earth; Yours is the dominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.
We essentially wanted to take the material from the last PHATFISH album ‘In Jesus’ and the latest album by Lou ‘Step into the Light’ and put them together to make a great set. We really believe both albums are full of great music and words that need to be heard!
What made you decide upon the locations of the gigs for The Light Tour?
It was a mixture of people approaching us and us speaking with contacts we already had.
We first worked with HOPEHIV about 10 years ago, when Phil Wall did his ’10 10 Challenge’. For the Light Tour we felt stirred to in some way give to those who are in desperate need – and really because of the history we decided to work with them again.
What’s coming up in 2011 and next on the agenda for Phatfish? Anything you can reveal about the next album?
We might be working on a grand theme, not too sure what that theme will be yet, but we want it to be something believers and non believers can relate to and know God through.
As it is fast approaching…how will you be celebrating Christmas?
Mike’s in the US seeing family where the rest of us are at home in Brighton.
And finally, how would you describe the love of God for all those people who perhaps get embarrassed about being a Christian, those who are unsure of their direction and of course those already on their journey with Christ?
Phillipians 3:14 Paul says “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus”.
Thanks guys! And Merry Christmas!
Phatfish have just released a compilation of their most popular congregational songs - called 'Anthems For Worship' and you can buy it here!
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